Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Caracas Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Caracas

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $1,203 in Caracas, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,989 in Caracas, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $2,775 in Caracas, rent included.

Medellin is about 16% cheaper than Caracas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Caracas are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Caracas 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$11.99 VES 6,700

-50.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$55.1 VES 30.8K

-40.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$10.13 VES 5,663

-30.01%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$2.61 VES 1,461

-34.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,918

$1.25 VES 701

-12.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.98 VES 546

-20.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.53 VES 858

9.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$3.06 VES 1,713

0.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.88 VES 1,053

-42.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$2.69 VES 1,505

-53.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$1.43 VES 798

-3.50%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$2.84 VES 1,590

-22.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$9.69 VES 5,414

-54.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$7.66 VES 4,281

-26.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$7.70 VES 4,304

15.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$5.24 VES 2,928

-55.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.81 VES 1,012

-41.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$2.21 VES 1,233

-32.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$2.05 VES 1,144

-32.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$2.69 VES 1,501

-57.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$2.05 VES 1,145

-43.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$1.34 VES 749

-33.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$1.87 VES 1,047

-55.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$4.08 VES 2,281

-44.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$10.83 VES 6,051

-1.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$1.50 VES 839

-20.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$2.04 VES 1,140

21.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.76 VES 427

13.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$30.45 VES 17.0K

35.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$5.03 VES 2,810

-70.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$2.66 VES 1,490

-26.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$9.91 VES 5,537

-21.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$0.48 VES 269

97.92%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$25.2K VES 14.1M

-28.12%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$39.5K VES 22.1M

-33.01%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$20.26 VES 11.3K

305.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$13.05 VES 7,293

-27.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$39.78 VES 22.2K

-39.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$69.0 VES 38.5K

-62.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$15.16 VES 8,472

25.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$5.92 VES 3,310

-33.61%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$131 VES 73.3K

136.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$5,363 VES 3.0M

11.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$64.0 VES 35.8K

-8.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$39.66 VES 22.2K

-18.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$104 VES 58.0K

-1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$115 VES 64.3K

-5.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$451 VES 251.9K

5.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$372 VES 208.0K

1.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$979 VES 547.0K

-14.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$845 VES 472.3K

-14.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$1,450 VES 810.4K

92.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$687 VES 383.9K

76.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$289 VES 161.5K

77.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

21.33

-37.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Last update for Caracas: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 in Medellin versus $451 in Caracas. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 77% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $55.0 in Caracas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $283 – making Medellin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Caracas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Caracas is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,804 in Caracas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 36% less in Medellin. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $309 per month in Medellin and $131 in Caracas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Caracas at $1,203. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Caracas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Caracas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.